The American people (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
The American people
Understanding America in 1920
By the 1920s, America had become a fascinating mix of different peoples and cultures. This period marked an important time when the country was experiencing significant changes, and understanding who made up the American population helps us see why the 1920s boom affected people so differently.
The 1920s is often called the "Roaring Twenties" because of its economic prosperity and cultural dynamism. However, this prosperity wasn't shared equally among all Americans, making it essential to understand the diverse groups that made up the population.
From colony to nation: the foundation
British colonial beginnings
America's story began in the 1600s when British settlers established colonies along the east coast. These early colonists created plantations where they grew valuable crops like cotton and tobacco. However, tensions grew when Britain began taxing the colonists heavily while refusing to give them any say in parliament - leading to the famous cry of "no taxation without representation."
On 4 July 1776, the 13 colonies declared their independence from Britain and united to form the United States of America. This date remains one of the most important in American history.
The Declaration of Independence didn't just establish American independence - it also introduced revolutionary ideas about human rights and self-governance that would influence democratic movements around the world for centuries to come.
Building a new government
The founding fathers created a unique system of government with several key features:
- State governments handled local affairs
- A federal government led by a president (elected every four years) managed national issues
- The Bill of Rights guaranteed essential freedoms like freedom of speech, worship, and access to information
This constitutional framework would shape how different groups of Americans experienced life in the coming centuries.
The American system of federalism was groundbreaking for its time. Unlike European monarchies, it created a balance of power between different levels of government and included constitutional protections for individual rights.
The "melting pot" of 1920
By the 1920s, America's population had grown to around 110 million people representing over 100 different nationalities. The country had become what many called a "melting pot" - imagine a container where different metals are heated and blended together to create something entirely new. This metaphor captured how America was meant to bring together people from all backgrounds into one unified nation.
However, the reality was more complex, as different groups faced very different experiences and opportunities. The "melting pot" ideal didn't always match the lived experience of discrimination and inequality that many groups encountered.
Recent immigrants: seeking the American dream
From the mid-19th century onwards, waves of immigrants arrived in America seeking better lives. Many came from:
- Mexico and Cuba - looking for work opportunities
- Eastern Europe - fleeing religious persecution, particularly Jewish communities
- Italy and Greece - escaping poverty and seeking economic opportunities
- Ireland - especially after the devastating Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849) which killed about one million people
- China and Japan - though many faced significant discrimination
Most of these immigrants were poor and low-skilled when they arrived. They typically settled in large towns and cities where they could find work, often taking the most dangerous and poorly paid jobs available.
Immigration patterns often followed economic opportunities and political upheavals in home countries. For example, the Chinese immigrants initially came during the California Gold Rush and later to build the transcontinental railroad, while Eastern European Jews fled increasing persecution and pogroms.
African Americans: a legacy of slavery
African Americans had a very different experience in the melting pot. Millions of enslaved people had been brought from Africa to work on plantations between 1600 and 1800. Although slavery officially ended in 1865, African Americans still faced enormous challenges by 1920:
The Reality of Post-Slavery America:
- They could not vote in many states
- They had very limited access to education
- Most worked in low-paying jobs
- They faced widespread discrimination and segregation
- By 1920, about 10 million African Americans lived in the USA, mostly concentrated in the South
Despite legal freedom, systematic discrimination through "Jim Crow" laws meant that African Americans remained largely excluded from the American Dream that immigrants were pursuing.
Native Americans: the original inhabitants
Before European settlers arrived, hundreds of different tribal nations had lived across America for thousands of years. However, white settlers gradually forced Native Americans off their ancestral lands and onto small "reservations."
The Devastating Impact: The impact was catastrophic - the native population dropped to just 5% of its original level in less than 300 years. This represents one of the most dramatic population declines in human history, caused by disease, warfare, and forced displacement.
Descendants of early settlers: the established Americans
The descendants of the original British, German, and Dutch settlers had become the wealthiest and most powerful group in America. By the 1960s, they were often called WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants). This group:
- Controlled most of the government and business leadership
- Had established the country's main cultural and social norms
- Generally had the best access to education and opportunities
- Formed what many considered the "mainstream" American culture
The WASP establishment represented the closest thing America had to a traditional ruling class. Their values, customs, and institutions became the standard against which other groups were measured, often creating barriers for those who didn't fit this mould.
Timeline of key events
Key Dates in American Population History:
- 1600s - British colonies established along east coast
- 1776 - Declaration of Independence from Britain
- 1800-1865 - Millions of Africans enslaved on plantations
- 1845-1849 - Irish Potato Famine drives mass immigration
- 1865 - Slavery officially abolished
- 1900s-1920s - Major waves of immigration from Europe and Asia
- 1920 - US population reaches 110 million people
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- America in 1920 was truly a "melting pot" with over 100 different nationalities represented in its 110 million population
- Different groups had vastly different experiences - from the privileged WASPs who controlled most institutions, to African Americans facing severe discrimination, to recent immigrants struggling to establish themselves
- The foundation of American government in 1776 created a federal system with constitutional rights, but these benefits weren't equally available to all groups
- Understanding this diversity is crucial for explaining why the 1920s economic boom affected different Americans in such different ways
- Native Americans experienced the most devastating impact from European settlement, losing 95% of their original population over 300 years